The former Governor may not have been a libertarian, but by putting his personal reputation and seal of approval on RSA 519:23-a, he gave the libertarian community in New Hampshire a huge win.
519:23-a – Right of Accused
In all criminal proceedings the court shall permit the defense to inform the jury of its right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to the facts in controversy.
History has shown that nullification has helped end chattel slavery, alcohol prohibition, and Jim Crow… and jury nullification is now the law-of-the-land in the Granite State.
Thank you for that one, Governor Lynch.
This blogger hopes you find a pleasantly lowered blood-pressure as you leave public office. đ
Yesterday was the inauguration ceremony at the state house and a number of other scheduled festive events to ring in the new administrations. After doing some promotional chalkings around the perimeter of the building, I headed inside and met with other independent media personalities visiting town from Keene. When we discovered a line outside of the governor’s office, we were struck with the urge to file in.
A staffer noticed our rolling videocameras and informed us that the line was for a photograph with governor Maggie Hassan, but that she would not have time to dedicate to a videotaped interview. Darryl, Kate, and James decided to find other items to film, while I perused the posters featuring the event’s corporate sponsors, which included everything from New Hampshire businesses to pharmaceutical multinationals.
It was a very rushed encounter, as most happenings with lines tend to be. I quickly asked after handing off my rolling camera and being flashed by still cameras, “Will you be doing anything to decrease New Hampshire’s dependence on the United States federal government?”
“Uh, well, I think that’s something we’ll all talk about, thanks.”
I picked up a cheesecake item and walked to the house chamber to listen to a colorful choir. Outside of the office, the line to see the new state president grew. In the lobby, chocolate bears were being distributed. It was a statist synthesis of Christmas and Easter, and there was free stuff to go around.
Today’s Union Leader coverage includes these choice words from Kathy Sullivan, the current national New Hampshire Democratic Committeewoman:
Democratic National Committeewoman Kathy Sullivan said that while she could not speak for Chase, the lawmaker is entitled to her opinion, âjust as the Free Staters are entitled to their opinions.â
Sullivan said Free Staters have a variety of opinions on various topics, but must âcontend withâ opinions sometimes expressed by leaders in favor of secession, even though not all Free Staters support secession.
Sullivan said that if Free Staters run for office they should âdisclose that they are part of that organized effort,â but she said she disagrees with the idea of trying to keep anyone from moving into the state.
âWould I prefer that more people of my political persuasion, who support strong public education, for instance, move into the state? Yes, but thatâs not what our democracy is,â Sullivan said. âWalls donât work.â
She said she was not surprised Limbaugh picked up on the matter, but added, âMaybe everyone on either side needs to calm down and talk to each other.â
Hmm, sounds like Kathy isn’t calling for Rep. Chase’s head… but you know she would be, if a Republican had said “Hey, let’s limit the freedoms that progressives value (or blacks, gays, unions, women, or really insert any group here), so they won’t be welcome here in NH.”
Oh right: Kathy Sullivan, then NH Democrat Chairwoman, in 2003, nearly 10 years ago.
That sound you are hearing: the hypocrite alarm going off…
Kathy Sullivan is a Manchester attorney and a member of the Democratic National Committee. She was chairman of the NH Democratic Party from 1999-2007… and she says wants us all to sit down and calmly talk now.  Well, let’s see:
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Get a clue. Free State Project participants are NOT “conservative”, nor are they “liberal”. We love liberty.
The Free Staters that I know all support ending the insane war on drugs. They are LGBT-friendly (or actually LGBT). They are anti-war. Are those “conservative” positions?
If you love liberty, meaning the freedom to live your life as you wish, so long as you don’t harm others, then you should join the Free State Project. However, if you’re a “conservative” that wants to control people’s sex lives or what they put in their bodies, then you won’t fit in. You should stay where you are.
The right to petition governments for redress of grievances is an essential liberty. Article 31 of the NH Constitution states: “The legislature shall assemble for the redress of public grievances…” and Article 32 states: “The people have a right… to request of the legislative body, by way of petition or remonstrance, redress of the wrongs done them, and of the grievances they suffer.” However, it is now more difficult to have your petitions answered.
In mid-December, the NH House Rules Committee voted 6-4 to recommend the removal of the Grievance Committee. On January 2, the House voted 226-147 to eliminate the committee. Supporters of the committee say it was a constitutionally created mechanism to help people redress grievances and that every petitioner coming before the committee had to propose a legislative action or the petition wasn’t entertained.
Rep. Gary Richardson, who motioned for the rule change, said the New Hampshire House is one of the most representative bodies, and any outstanding or pressing issue could be raised via legislation, on a case-by-case basis.
The main problem with that claim is that legislation can only be proposed during a brief period between Legislative Sessions. Secondly, the claim assumes that someone’s Representative will actually introduce the requested legislation.
